Tuesday, June 23, 2009

an experiment...

It's too soon to report the latest findings in the Hannay investigation into brain function, writing output and diet...

However, I've found that some days my mind feels really fuzzy and unproductive and I can sit all day at the computer and squeeze out a few hundred words, while on other days a couple of thousand words can flow quite easily.

It's partly to do with the creative process and the muse, both of which are unreliable at the best of times. It's partly story problems and what else is going on in my life... but I'm also wondering about diet... and I'm experimenting with Vitamin B.



I'll keep you posted if I think it definitely helps.

12 comments:

Magdalena Scott said...

Sounds interesting. I look forward to the results. I have way too many fuzzy head days.

(I know. But *besides* the way my hair looks...)

Lacey Devlin said...

Ah yes the power of vitamin B. I'm sure that without it I would have left the house without pants on a few times ;)

Barbara Hannay said...

Wow, Lacey, it's that good, is it? Why didn't I start on it years ago?

Michelle Douglas said...

Ooh, do keep us posted, Barb -- though, I doubt I can blame my fuzzy days on a Vit B deficiency. That'd, uh, be the wine ;-)

Barbara Hannay said...

Well, yes, I guess the experiment won't be very scientific if I keep up with wine. Sigh.
Come to think of it, I never was much a scientist.

JoyfullyHis said...

With aromatherapy, they say to get a citrusy type scent for energy and alertness. That and exercise, but nobody wants to hear about that... :)

Barbara Hannay said...

Citrusy aromatherapy? I like that idea.

Barbara Hannay said...

Funny, I didn't leap at the exercise suggestion. Actually, that's one thing that's dropped off in my regime lately, because of problems with feet.
Have been hoping that gardening's enough, but somehow I doubt it.

Lacey Devlin said...

Others that might help if the Vit B doesn't :) :

Brahmi and/or Ginkgo Biloba for brain, memory and concentration

Liz Fielding said...

I'll be watching with interest, Barb. I have added some supplements to my diet recently and although I do feel a little less wacked all the time it doesn't seem to be making much difference to the word output.

I've also doubled my cod liver oil capsules and it's finally making a difference to the arthritic thumb -- too many years hitting the space bar!

Exercise is so hard. Cutting the grass is my major effort. The one thing you can't put off :)

Barbara Hannay said...

Well done on the grass cutting, Liz. At the moment I'm pushing barrow loads of gravel and tipping it behind the retaining wall E's built. Thirty minutes a day of work that makes me puff.
As for hitting the space bar with your thumb... is that what touch typists do? I don't use my thumb for anything when I type. Glad the cod liver oil is helping.

Liz Fielding said...

Yes, Barb. If you're a touch typist, the right thumb works the space bar.

We did a lot of gravel shifting last year -- we still a cubic metre of the stuff in a bag in the drive that's been there for months. I suspect it's going to be another month or two yet...